The influence of nonrandom extra‐pair paternity on heritability estimates derived from wild pedigrees

摘要: Quantitative genetic analysis is often fundamental for understanding evolutionary processes in wild populations. Avian populations provide a model system due to the relative ease of inferring relatedness among individuals through observation. However, extra-pair paternity (EPP) creates erroneous links within social pedigree. Previous work has suggested this causes minor underestimation heritability if paternal misassignment random and hence not influenced by trait being studied. Nevertheless, much literature suggests numerous traits are associated with EPP accuracy estimates such remains unexplored. We show analytically how nonrandom pedigree errors can influence estimates. Then, combining empirical data from large great tit (Parus major) simulations, we assess derived pedigrees change depending on mode relationship between focal trait. that magnitude typically small (<15%). Hence, our analyses suggest quantitative inference observations relationships relatively robust; approach also provides widely applicable method assessing consequences EPP.